10 YEARS OF AKALA + Special Guests

The Social Club is very proud to welcome the return of AKALA to Southampton as part of his 10 YEARS OF AKALA tour.

Support from LST.

More TBA.

Tickets from £14.50

10 YEARS OF AKALA

To celebrate 10 years since the release of Akala’s critically acclaimed debut album It’s Not A Rumour , Illa State Records, Akala’s very own independent home record label, are proud to announce they will be releasing a triple vinyl of selected tracks from each of his six albums chosen especially by his supporters. This special edition album will be also available for download in digital format.

10 Years of Akala gives one pause for thought – here is an artist that had it in him to keep his fierce independence when it was not fashionable, has performed in over 30 countries, released 6 albums, two books, presented the seminal Life of Rhyme for Channel 4, founded The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company and has been a tireless voice for education and social justice in the UK and all over the world.

Akala does so much it can be easy to forget that first and foremost he is an amazing musician. This anniversary release reminds us of that and the growth of a talent that has toured the UK and globally, all whilst being largely ignored by mainstream radio for the past decade. Last year alone, Akala headlined 4 sold out shows in London (2 at the Jazz Café, Rich Mix and Village Underground) addressed the Oxford Union and released part 2 of Knowledge is Power. His live show is 90 minutes of relentless tracks, backed by intense and stunning visuals, live drums, a DJ and with no need for a ‘hype man’. 2016’s upcoming tour in October promises to be his biggest yet, with a London show at Koko, UK, US, European and Australian dates also to be announced. Fresh from an East Africa mini tour (Addis, Khartoum & Juba) Akala is ready to take on the world again in 2016.

With part 4 of his legendary Fire In The Booth eagerly anticipated for later this year, an appearance on BBC2 & the RSC’s Shakespeare 400th birthday celebrations collaborating with Nitin Sawney and a reggae documentary on BBC4 to be broadcast in October, 2016 will continue to be a year of solid progress and groundbreaking, pathmaking vision from this artistic polymath.

10 Years of Akala

Triple Vinyl and Digital download

Out 02.09.2016

Website: www.akalamusic.com

Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/akalamusic

Facebook: www.facebook.com/akalamusic

Twitter: @Akalamusic

Instagram: @Akalamusic

Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/AkalaOfficialChannel

Merch Store: akala.tmstor.es

LST (Leigh Samuel Taylor)

Incorporating the well-honed talents of a skilled poet and vocalist, LST strives to take a different route. Through utilising a slick urban story telling persona and working with a full live band, LSTcreates a fresh sound that inspires his personal new-futuristic take on street music.

The last year has seen LST Venture out as an acoustic quartet whilst finishing his debut album set for release in 2016. The quartet produce a powerful and funky backing perfect for the rhythmic and melodic times of LST.

LST now has 2 battle of the bands competitions under his belt and has performed at a number of festivals across the UK.

2016 has seen LST return to where it all started for him and rejoin the club circuit to warm the crowd up for some of the grime scenes leading and most respected artists such as Kano, Devlin, Ocean Wisdom, P Money & Wretch 32. 

The UK's leading broadcasters BBC are in support of LST and recently he was invited to perform live on BBC Radio 6 Music with Steve Lamacq, this adding to the string of achievements made by LST including being broadcast on a number of BBC Radio programs and being selected by BBC Introducing teams to support the jazz genius Jamie Cullum on his UK Momentum.